SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- After two weeks off, racing action picked up steam Saturday night at the Springfield Raceway with another exciting night of close finishes and new winners as Oronogo's Bobby Pearish withstood a late caution and held off a last-lap challange by Terry Beckham II to grab his first-ever USRA RHS Modified feature.

The USRA RHS Modified main event rolled out with Kyle Slagle and Kaelie Archer on the front row. Slagle grabbed the opening lead as Brian Green found the top groove fast and shot to the outside from his sixth starting spot with Pearish in tow.

After one lap completed, caution flew as rookie Nathan Cottrell, defending track champion Mitch Keeter and young gun Jordan McCrimmon all went around in turn 1. Green had misfortune too as a flat tire sent him to the pits.

On the restart, Pearish got a great jump and took over the top spot as Erik Maggard and Billy Dalton moved to challange Slagle for second. With three-wide racing throughout the pack, Pearish pulled away as Maggard took over second place.

On lap 6, Beckham moved into the top five, and by lap 15 he and Maggard were door to door battling while Pearish, who suffered a heartbreaking loss to Johnny Scott two weeks ago, was glued to the middle lane.

On lap 17, Beckham moved into second around Maggard while four-time track champion Jackie Dalton came to life and moved around Maggard.

On lap 18, caution flew and bunched the field up. With Pearish out in front, Beckham picked the top groove on the double-file restart with Dalton going to the inside as Keeter had charged back to contend, along with Jody Tillman, who had suffered a hard crash during the heat race.

As Pearish brought the field to the restart, Beckham rode the top groove and was looking for his first win of the season while Dalton was fishing downstairs. As the leaders took the white flag, Pearish moved to the middle lane as Beckham swung outside heading to the lead fast. Pearish was able to hold off the charge for the victory while Beckham, Dalton, Keeter and Maggard completed the top five.

While figures were not final yet, it is estimated that the racetrack and fans helped raised over $600 for the Joplin Humane Society.

For more information visit the website at www.springfieldraceway.com or contact promoer Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426 or text SPRINGFIELDRACEWAY on your phone to 368674.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Saturday, June 4, 2011

USRA RHS MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Bobby Pearish, Oronogo; 2. Terry Beckham II, Webb City; 3. Jackie Dalton, Carthage; 4. Mitch Keeter, Webb City; 5. Erik Maggard, Brighton; 6. Jody Tillman, Branson; 7. Billy Dalton, Exeter; 8. Brian Green, Pierce City; 9. Chris Tonoli, Hermitage; 10. Dwight Neihoff, Lockwood; 11. Kaelie Archer, Bolivar; 12. Kyle Slagle, Pierce City; 13. Nathan Cottrell, Nixa; 14. Darian Hendrix, Joplin; 15. Jordan McCrimmon, Bolivar; 16. Jerry Lankton, Lampe.

1st Heat: 1. Maggard; 2. J. Dalton; 3. Neihoff; 4. Tonoli; 5. Cottrell; 6. Keeter.

2nd Heat: 1. Pearish; 2. Beckham; 3. Green; 4. Archer; 5. Tillman.

3rd Heat: 1. Hendrix; 2. Lankton; 3. B Dalton; 4. Slagle; 5. McCrimmon.